The Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Bérangère Michel, Former CFO of the John Lewis Partnership and Ben Freeman, Country CFO RWE Renewables UK / Global Director Accounting RWE Offshore, join Criticaleye’s Senior Editor Bridgette Hall to explore what it takes to lead effectively through transformation and continuous change.

In an era defined by volatility, shifting stakeholder expectations and the accelerating pace of organisational evolution, leaders are under unprecedented pressure to balance business priorities with empathy, purpose and resilience. Bérangère and Ben share their experiences of guiding teams through uncertainty, driving cultural alignment and sustaining performance during times of transformation.

Discussion points include:

• The most common challenges leaders face when navigating change and how to overcome them
• What effective leadership looks like during periods of disruption and evolution
• How to engage and motivate people when organisations are undergoing transformation
• Building trust, alignment and resilience across teams
• The critical role of culture in enabling and sustaining change
• Balancing strategic business priorities with the human side of transformation
• Practical behaviours and approaches that help people embrace change
• How leadership itself is evolving in response to increasing complexity
• Why maintaining strong external networks and reference points is essential for decision making and perspective
• Lessons learned from leading people through uncertainty and transformation